Man admits stealing from grandfather a second time

Evans

By Michael D. Abernethy / Times-News

Published: Friday, October 18, 2013 at 01:14 PM.

GRAHAM — A Haw River man was convicted a second time for stealing large amounts of money from his grandfather.

In 2008, Jesse Evans, 34, of Wormranch Road, Haw River, pleaded guilty to numerous counts of financial card fraud and forgery. The victim in those cases was his grandfather. Because of that theft, and despite health problems, the man hasn’t been able to retire, Alamance County Assistant District Attorney Gene Morris said.

This summer, Alamance County sheriff’s deputies charged Evans with forging checks on his grandfather’s checking account and cashing them at two stores between May 31 and July 12. The total amount Evans owed his grandfather, including overdraft fees, was $890.

Evans pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts each of forgery of an instrument, uttering a forged instrument and obtaining property by false pretense.

Evans said he forged the checks to pay his ex-wife’s drug debt, said defense attorney Robert Martin.

“His ex-wife contracted with a seller and told him (Evans) would pay the debt,” Martin said. “That person was a particularly scary individual” and showed up at Evans’ home demanding money while his 10-year-old child was also home.

GRAHAM — A Haw River man was convicted a second time for stealing large amounts of money from his grandfather.

In 2008, Jesse Evans, 34, of Wormranch Road, Haw River, pleaded guilty to numerous counts of financial card fraud and forgery. The victim in those cases was his grandfather. Because of that theft, and despite health problems, the man hasn’t been able to retire, Alamance County Assistant District Attorney Gene Morris said.

This summer, Alamance County sheriff’s deputies charged Evans with forging checks on his grandfather’s checking account and cashing them at two stores between May 31 and July 12. The total amount Evans owed his grandfather, including overdraft fees, was $890.

Evans pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts each of forgery of an instrument, uttering a forged instrument and obtaining property by false pretense.

Evans said he forged the checks to pay his ex-wife’s drug debt, said defense attorney Robert Martin.

“His ex-wife contracted with a seller and told him (Evans) would pay the debt,” Martin said. “That person was a particularly scary individual” and showed up at Evans’ home demanding money while his 10-year-old child was also home.

Evans’ grandfather was reluctant to prosecute and asked that the charges be dismissed, Morris said. But because Evans’ probation was revoked in the 2008 case, Morris asked Superior Court Judge Susan Bray for prison time.

Bray, of Guilford County, issued two mitigated sentences, finding that Evans accepted responsibility at an early stage of the investigation. Evans will serve five- to 15-months in prison with 41 days’ credit for time served. A second five- to 15-month sentence was suspended.

When released from prison, Evans will be on 24 months’ probation and must pay $890 in restitution and complete substance abuse treatment.